A recent article in the Ottawa Citizen highlighted the closing of churches in the Ottawa/Gatineau region. To date, a total of 20 churches of various denominations have closed. Concern for the future of many parishes is prevalent, especially among those who are intimately involved in parish life. The challenges all denominations are facing are dwindling attendance resulting in reduced revenues, while fixed costs continue, thus resulting in parishes falling into deficit positions, which they are unable to address. Also, while most congregations are supported by parents and grand-parents, their offspring are not regular church goers, if they attend at all. So as older parishioners die or become incapacitated, there are no replacements and pews become emptier and emptier. All of which is a recipe for failure.

Now let us reflect on our situation at Our Lady of Victory. For the past few years, attendance at mass has been dwindling, our congregation is aging and we are beginning to report budget deficits on an annual basis. Similarly, no matter how prudent we are, our fixed costs are growing faster than our limited revenues can sustain. An aging congregation such as ours also raises other challenges. For example, in the past, a number of minor construction-type jobs were undertaken by parish volunteers, but today, these volunteers are no longer able to handle this type of work, thus resulting in the requirement to contract out more and more work to private contractors with the ensuing increased costs to the Parish. Likewise with volunteers, if it were not for a small number of volunteers, there would be no mass support, church management and upkeep, Parish fund-raisers, etc. This group is starting to diminish as well.

A question many long time volunteers frequently ask is: “Do most Parishioners really care about the future of our faith community?” Events and activities indicate a general apathy on the part of many. As an example, over the past few years, Parish organizations have been requesting volunteers to come forward and support our faith and administrative organizations. Hardly anyone has stepped forward, so how important is the survival of our faith community to the congregation in general? There are still 3 vacant warden positions and the Parish Pastoral Council has vacancies as well and is being forced to re-define itself due to a lack of interest. Are many of us simply content to attend mass and let someone else worry about our community? A fair question indeed!

On the positive side however, we do have our strengths. We have a generous congregation who faithfully support the Parish, both through weekly cash donations and participation in our various fund-raising activities. In addition, as a result of prudent financial management over the years, we do have investments and funds in the bank. So, in the short term, we are viable. It is the longer term which is more disturbing; 3 to 5 years from now, when our revenue/expenditure trends indicate that, we will have very little funds left upon which to operate.

So, how do we plan for the future? What kind of measures do we take? A number of difficult decisions are ahead of us. For example, would we eventually invite non-Catholic congregations to utilize our church and share expenses? Do we sell off our assets such as the rectory and land beside the church to keep us a float? Is the future one Catholic Church in Buckingham with English and French services? What will be the benchmark that will decide the financial viability of the Parish? Where will we draw the line and admit we are no longer sustainable?

The objective of this analysis is not to cry wolf or to scare people, but to put the facts on the table. For too long, we have been avoiding public debate on our future. Given the reality of the situation, it is apparent that we will soon be required to have a full discussion, as a community, on the future and how we manage it. We are going to need to prove we are a community. If we don’t our faith community will not endure and we will be closing our doors in our lifetime. This message is a challenge for all of us to take responsibility, not the just the reliable few.